Strengths-based occupational therapy

Nurturing growth and honoring each person’s capacity for meaningful engagement

Focused on Growth

At All Bright Futures OT, I believe every individual deserves the opportunity to shine. My primary focus is working with adolescents, young adults, and their families. I also support children ages 5 and up on a case-by-case basis—especially when their needs align with a functional, strengths-based approach.

Rooted in Strengths

Whether I am supporting meaningful daily activities directly or focusing on skill development to support underlying challenges, I begin with your goals and build on your strengths- because real progress happens when support is personalized, practical, and purposeful.

Grounded in Real-World Contexts

Occupational therapists are uniquely trained in analyzing everyday activities to identify the obstacles that hinder participation.

I look beyond surface-level challenges, supporting individuals in developing the specific skills, strategies, or adaptations needed to succeed.

Depending on the goals and context, this may involve working directly with the individual to build skills, or using a coaching or consultative approach with the people who support them. Often, a hybrid approach—combining both direct intervention and collaboration—leads to the most meaningful progress.

Regardless of the method, I purposefully partner with my clients to holistically consider their strengths, routines, values, culture, environments, and relationships—ensuring that support is truly meaningful and fits within the context of their everyday life.

Empowering Independence in Everyday Life

Whether at home, school, work, or in the community, my mission is simple:
To empower individuals with the tools, strategies, and confidence they need to thrive in the real world.

I believe the most lasting change starts with a clear vision of what matters most. That is why I begin with the end in mind—focusing on an individual’s values, priorities, and goals to guide each session. By connecting therapy to meaningful outcomes and building intrinsic motivation, I ensure that skills are practiced in relevant, real-life contexts whenever possible. When progress feels purposeful and personally rewarding, engagement and growth naturally follow.

Real-Life Skills for Real-World Success

Together, we build the skills that promote confidence, independence, and participation—in school, at home, at work, and in the community.

  • At All Bright Futures OT, I partner with children, teens, and young adults with a wide range of developmental, neurological, and emotional needs, including:

    • ADHD

    • Autism

    • Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD)

    • Anxiety

    • Developmental Trauma

    • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

    • Down Syndrome

    • Limb Differences

    I also support individuals with sensory processing difficulties, executive functioning challenges, and rare or complex neurodevelopmental conditions. While these are common diagnoses I support, my services are always individualized. A formal evaluation helps me understand each person’s strengths and needs—but my approach goes beyond the diagnosis, focusing on what is getting in the way of meaningful participation and independence.


  • Whether someone is learning to manage a morning routine, organize schoolwork, prepare for employment, or build friendships, my focus is always the same: functional goals that lead to meaningful change.

    Areas of support include:

    Daily Living Skills
    Personal care, home routines, laundry, and meal prep for growing independence

    Academic Support
    Time management, organization, emotional regulation, and handwriting skills rooted in visual-motor development

    Vocational Readiness
    Job skill building, task sequencing, workplace navigation, and sensory strategies to support regulation on the job

    Social Participation
    Supporting sensory regulation, reading social cues, and building confidence in group and community settings

    Leisure Skills
    Exploring interests, developing motor planning, discovering the “just-right challenge,” and advocating for inclusive recreation



Let’s Talk About What Matters Most To You

Contact me to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to determine whether my services align with your needs.

whitney@allbrightfuturesot.com

240-547-9615

 FAQs

  • The first step is to schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. This gives us a chance to connect, discuss your needs, and determine if my services are a good fit.

    If we decide to move forward, you’ll need to request a doctor's order for an occupational therapy evaluation. Once I receive that, we’ll schedule the evaluation. After the assessment, I’ll provide you with a detailed report and plan of care, which will also be shared with your doctor.

    From there, we’ll begin services based on your individualized goals. As progress is made, we can perform re-evaluations to update goals, adjust services, or determine if it’s time for discharge.

    Note: Maryland allows for “direct access” to occupational therapy, meaning you don’t need a doctor’s order to start services. However, if you plan to submit a superbill to your insurance, I strongly recommend obtaining a doctor’s order, as it can support claim approval.

  • While my primary focus is on adolescents and young adults preparing for life after school, I also support children ages 5 and up with a variety of developmental, learning, and emotional needs.

  • At this time, I provide cash-based services. However, I offer superbills upon request, which you can submit to your insurance provider for potential out-of-network reimbursement. I recommend checking with your insurance company in advance to understand your coverage.

    Common CPT Codes used include:

    Evaluation: 97165, 97166, 97167 (low, moderate, and high complexity)

    97535 – Self-care/home management training (e.g., activities of daily living [ADLs] and compensatory training, meal preparation, safety procedures, and instructions in use of assistive technology devices/adaptive equipment), direct one-on-one contact, each 15 minutes

    97110 —Therapeutic procedure, one or more areas, each 15 minutes; therapeutic exercises to develop strength and endurance, range of motion, and flexibility

    97530 – Therapeutic activities, direct (one-on-one) patient contact (use of dynamic activities to improve functional performance), each 15 minutes

    97537 – Community/work reintegration training (e.g., shopping, transportation, money management, avocational activities and/or work environment/modification analysis, work task analysis, use of assistive technology device/adaptive equipment), direct one-on-one contact, each 15 minutes

    97550 – Caregiver training in strategies and techniques to facilitate the patient’s functional performance in the home or community (e.g., ADLs, IADLs, transfers, mobility, communication, swallowing, feeding, problem solving, safety practices) (without the patient present), face-to-face; initial 30 minutes

    97129 – Therapeutic interventions that focus on cognitive function (e.g., attention, memory, reasoning, executive function, problem solving, and/or pragmatic functioning) and compensatory strategies to manage the performance of an activity (e.g., managing time or schedules, initiating, organizing, and sequencing tasks), direct (one-on-one) patient contact; initial 15 minutes


  • I understand that private occupational therapy can feel like a significant financial investment—and it is! I want to be transparent about what goes into the cost of services and why those rates are set the way they are.

    As an independent provider, the fee you pay covers much more than just the time spent in session. Behind the scenes, your investment supports:

    • Licensure & Continuing Education – Ongoing learning is essential to stay current and provide the highest quality, evidence-based care. Maintaining professional licensure also requires regular renewal and continuing education hours.

    • Professional Liability Insurance – This protects both you and me and is required for ethical, responsible practice.

    • Electronic Health Record (EHR) System – I use a secure, HIPAA-compliant system to manage documentation, scheduling, and communication.

    • Driving & Travel Costs – As a mobile therapist, I come to you. This means travel time, mileage, and vehicle wear and tear are all factored into my services.

    • Assessment Tools & Materials – Evaluations require standardized tools , many of which have licensing fees or replacement costs.

    • Preparation & Documentation Time – For every session, I spend additional time preparing customized materials, planning activities, and completing required documentation to ensure quality care and continuity.

    • Administrative Overhead – This includes things like business registration, website maintenance, communications, billing systems, and more.

    While I do my best to keep services accessible, I also want to ensure I’m providing ethical, sustainable, and high-quality support. I’m always happy to talk more about ways to make services work for your family—including flexible scheduling and providing superbills for potential out-of-network insurance reimbursement.

  • I offer mobile outpatient services, which means I come to you. Sessions take place in natural environments such as your home or community settings to promote real-world skill development in familiar, functional contexts.

  • Maryland is a direct access state, which means a physician’s order is not required to begin occupational therapy evaluation or treatment. However, if you plan to submit a superbill to your insurance for potential reimbursement, I strongly recommend obtaining a doctor’s order. Insurance companies are more likely to process and approve claims when a referral or order is included.

    We’ll discuss exactly what to request during our initial consultation so you feel confident moving forward.

  • Session length and frequency are based on individual needs and goals. Most sessions are 50 minutes and occur once per week, but we will work together to determine what makes the most sense for your situation.

  • I focus on helping individuals develop meaningful, real-life skills in areas such as daily living, academic success, vocational readiness, social participation, and leisure engagement. Goals are always personalized and based on a collaborative evaluation process.

  • Yes, telehealth is available for clients who may benefit from virtual support. Telehealth sessions are offered at a reduced rate of $130 per session and can be a convenient and effective option—especially for coaching, consultation, or certain skill-building sessions.

    That said, telehealth isn't the best fit for every client or every goal. Occupational therapy is often most effective when delivered in person, particularly when hands-on support, environmental observation, or real-time task engagement is needed. In some cases, a hybrid model—with a combination of in-person and virtual sessions—can offer the best of both worlds.

    During your initial consultation and evaluation, we’ll determine together what service model will be the most supportive for you or your child’s needs.

  • From the “Annotated Code of Maryland Health Occupations Article, Title 10-pages 1-20”:

    (l) Occupational therapy. -- “Occupational therapy” means the therapeutic use of purposeful and meaningful goal–directed activities to evaluate, consult, and treat individuals who: (1) Have a disease or disorder, impairment, activity limitation, or participation restriction that interferes with their ability to function independently in daily life roles; or (2) Benefit from the prevention of impairments and activity limitations.

    (o) Occupational therapy principles. -- “Occupational therapy principles” include: (1) The use of therapeutic activities that promote independence in daily life roles; (2) Remediation or restoration of performance abilities that are limited due to impairment in biological, physiological, psychological, or neurological processes; (3) In order to enhance performance, the adaption of task, process, or the environment, or the teaching of compensatory techniques; (4) Methods and techniques for preventing disability that facilitate the development or safe application of performance skills; (5) Health promotion strategies and practices that enhance performance abilities; and (6) Education, instruction, and research in the practice of occupational therapy. (p) Occupational therapy procedures. – (1) Occupational therapy procedures” include: (i) Developing, improving, sustaining, or restoring skills in activities of daily living, work, or productive activities, including: 1. Instrumental activities of daily activity; and 2. Play and leisure activities; (ii) Developing, remediating, or restoring sensorimotor, perceptual, cognitive, or psychological components of performance; (iii) Designing, fabricating, applying, or training in the use of assistive technology, splinting, or orthotic devices, including training in the use of prosthetic devices; (iv) Adapting environments and processes, including the application of ergonomic principles to enhance performance and safety in daily life roles; (v) Applying physical agent modalities as adjuncts to or in preparation for purposeful activity with appropriate training, as specified by the Board in regulations; (vi) Promoting safe, functional mobility in daily life tasks; (vii) Providing intervention in collaboration with the client, the client’s family, the client’s caregiver, or others; (viii) Educating the client, the client’s family, the client’s caregiver, or others in carrying out appropriate nonskilled interventions; and (ix) Consulting with groups, programs, organizations, and communities to provide population-based services. (2) Occupational therapy procedures” do not include the adjustment or manipulation of any of the osseous structures of the body or spine.

  • At All Bright Futures OT, my logo is more than just a symbol—it’s a reflection of the heart behind my work.

    The sunflower is a tribute to my late sister, Heidi, whose strength, resilience, and bright spirit continue to inspire me every day. Heidi was a passionate special educator, a devoted daughter, a loyal friend, and a bright light to everyone who knew her. She lived her life with courage, faith, and a deep commitment to helping others. The sunflower, which was part of her wedding bouquet, reminds me of her joy, perseverance, and the grace with which she faced life’s hardest challenges.

    The roots in my logo represent the foundational skills, connections, and supports that individuals need to grow strong and live fully. The sun symbolizes my role as an occupational therapist—not to change who someone is, but to walk alongside them, helping light the way as they find their own path toward meaningful engagement and independence. It also reflects my belief that all futures can be bright, no matter the path each person follows.

    You’ll also see nature woven throughout my website. I believe nature teaches us important lessons about growth—how it requires time, patience, resilience, and care. Just as trees weather storms and flowers bloom after seasons of change, individuals build strength and skills over time, especially with the right support and nurturing. Spending time outdoors is also one of the most powerful ways to promote emotional well-being, self-regulation, and connection—all of which are essential for thriving in everyday life.

    At All Bright Futures OT, everything I do is rooted in the belief that with strong foundations, steady guidance, and the light of possibility, every future can grow bright.